[Antennas] Antenna Modeling

[Edward Dickinson, III]

It's good to see some activity here on the QTH.net Antenna reflector.

>From time to time I do some analysis with a NEC engine based antenna
modeling program.  I'll not mention specifically which one.  The results I
get with it are satisfactory.  I do have some problems with input.  I find
the input system to be awkward.  That may be because I am used to CAD.

One of the input systems works by graphically creating lines with a mouse in
a window.  Invariably they then need a lot of tweaking through adjusting
geometric coordinates in data input mode.  The other method is more strictly
geometric coordinate input.  I have not yet advanced to using tables of
data. 

I am looking for other, free or low cost programs with a different
input/data creation system.  I do not know what all may be available.  It
might be good to be able to import models from CAD... .dwg, .dxf, etc.

A graphical interface suits me better than data input.  I'm more visually
oriented than mathematically.  I can handle the data input, but it is a bit
tedious for me.

My use is typically for wire antennas.  One thought is that I could more
easily input via CAD and import into a modeling program.  Are there other
thoughts to be shared on various modeling programs?  


Regards,
Dick - KA5KKT